Deck and stringer restoration - estimated cost to have done at a local shop?

[Coolhandnuke]

Hello everyone, I did some searching in this forum and haven't come up with much, so any help you can provide would be most appreciated. I bought my project ('84 Sea Ray Monaco 21') with the full intention of doing the deck and stringers myself, and I still might, depending on the outcome. I would love to have this boat in the water this summer, but due to my current work schedule (night shift) etc., that might not be possible.

So my question is this: does anyone have any experience with getting a deck and stringers done at a local shop and if so, what did it cost? I already have most of the deck removed, engine out, etc. I'll start calling around next week but wanted to have a ballpark so I would know what price range should be expected.

Thanks in advance with any info you can provide.

nuke

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Deck and stringer restoration - estimated cost to have done at a local shop?

Triple the cost maybe more to have work done by a shop. Many places will not even touch older boats.

Bite the bullet and try to fit it into your schedule and/or find another boat to play with while that one is being repaired

 

[oops!]

Re: Deck and stringer restoration - estimated cost to have done at a local shop?

i do this for a living....

between 3 and 5k depending on the boat....

no rug....no foam at 3......bare wood and glass......and you cut the t plate

5 gets you foam and a rug......and the transom finished more if you want the boat re assembled.....(seats in, all hooked up and ready for the water...
time line......one month.

keep in mind, these are canadian prices.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Deck and stringer restoration - estimated cost to have done at a local shop?

Unfortunately I think oops! and his shop are a rarity. From what I've seen here, this work is pretty much DIY or forget it. The people that have had it done "professionally" have typically paid through the nose, and were not pleased with the work that was done. If you do find a shop that will do it for a fair price, CHECK UP ON IT EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. I've seen too many where they covered up shoddy, unsealed work with the new deck.

 

[oops!]

Re: Deck and stringer restoration - estimated cost to have done at a local shop?

Unfortunately I think oops! and his shop are a rarity. From what I've seen here, this work is pretty much DIY or forget it. The people that have had it done "professionally" have typically paid through the nose, and were not pleased with the work that was done. If you do find a shop that will do it for a fair price, CHECK UP ON IT EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. I've seen too many where they covered up shoddy, unsealed work with the new deck.

to add support to this statement.........

one of the problems with this kind of job, is that a bad job will last 5 years.....chances are the owner will sell the boat before that.
so boats coming back are a rarity, and corner cutting is the norm. cutting to the point of the vessel being unsafe.
(this is more so in the summer. in the winter....the restorer will rather do these jobs in the off season rather than the peak of the summer time
you can get away with lots of single layer csm lay ups if you are trying to either rip the customer off or do the very minimum due to a low price quote.
the standard line is "that is the way builders did it for years"!.........well.....that is true. but that was also before we actually learned how to apply it from the manufacturers. !

there are several things you can do to protect your self....(i do this for the customer any how)
i tell him the lay up schedule.....what kind of wood is going in.....what kind of resin.....and i take pics and show him every step or the way.

 

[john-88]

Re: Deck and stringer restoration - estimated cost to have done at a local shop?

COOLHANDNUKE...... sorry to say this but are u crazy, u might as well rent a boat and it wouldnt cost u as much as to fix ur boat at a shop... i took mine to guy that does that he called me a day after i dropped it off he saying " i apologize but i cant touch ur boat, fixing it will cost u more than what the hull is worth u might as well go buy another one thats in a better shape" like bob_vt said fit it in ur schedule and DO IT URSELF, im doing mine too look
i think if u invest 3 hours everyday and arround 6 hours one day a week u probably be done by more or less end of june.. depends how much work u get done every time.. key thing do research and know what material ur dealing with and how to handle it... good luck oops correct me if im wrong

 

[oops!]

Re: Deck and stringer restoration - estimated cost to have done at a local shop?

oops correct me if im wrong

nope......you are spot on.

one of the key things you said was EVERYDAY.

when a diy-er does a job like this......if he stops for say a week. it takes a full day to get his head back into the job.

however if he does a little every day.....the job will be done before long.

stopping a build or delaying it is one of the worst things you can do to your self

 

[93bayliner1800]

Re: Deck and stringer restoration - estimated cost to have done at a local shop?

I have had 3 different people stop by where I live and ask to get their boats rebuilt....I agree with oops...probably around 5 to 6 grand for 16 to 18ft boat, and a 2 to 3 month timeline. I say the motor is the key in any rebuild..that and initial investment in the boat. I will have less than 5,000 in mine as I got the boat for 400 bucks...then rebuilt the motor myself and all new eletcronics for an outboard. I guess I could have put the motor on another boat, but I like my size bowrider....and everyone I looked at around 5 to 6 thousand I was worried would be in the same spot in a couple of years. jmho....but if you remove the motor and trailer, and try to do it yourself....you could trash the hull and sell motor/outdrive and trailer and wouldnt be out anything but time mostly.

 

[Friscoboater]

Re: Deck and stringer restoration - estimated cost to have done at a local shop?

Most shops around here just laugh at people when they ask to have this done. All they want is the easy maintenance, patch jobs, and other easy tasks like that. Those big restorations lose money.

 

[krakatoa]

Re: Deck and stringer restoration - estimated cost to have done at a local shop?

Night Shift??? THATS PERFECT!!!!! opps and the guys are right, minimum 5K. Im not an expert but Im working on mine right now, check my last post with pics . Frisco I saw your vids, thast why

 

[krakatoa]

Re: Deck and stringer restoration - estimated cost to have done at a local shop?

nope.......

stopping a build or delaying it is one of the worst things you can do to your self

Absolutely right!

 

[Coolhandnuke]

Re: Deck and stringer restoration - estimated cost to have done at a local shop?

Thanks everyone for the responses. I'll probably just continue to chip away at it, and when it's done, it's done. Tough not to have a boat to put in the water when the weather gets nice, but I'll deal. At least I know it will be done RIGHT as well, since all of my technique, materials and supplies are per the expertise on this forum!

 

[rickryder]

Re: Deck and stringer restoration - estimated cost to have done at a local shop?

Were all happy to help you out with your questions on how do I..........?? So post away! And lots of pics

 

[john-88]

Re: Deck and stringer restoration - estimated cost to have done at a local shop?

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL02C318B574CD948D&feature=plcp

this a link for i think 70 plus videos from a to z and it shows u a step by step restoration for stringers and deck, it was posted by friscoboater, watch every video closely. i suggest u watch them first and do ur self a favor and dont skip while watching the videos u could miss important information that help.... good luck

 

[93bayliner1800]

Re: Deck and stringer restoration - estimated cost to have done at a local shop?

Yeah!! We go nuts for pics!

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Deck and stringer restoration - estimated cost to have done at a local shop?

What ever you do, DON"T listen to OOPS!!! That dummy cut his boat in HALF!!!!!!! And then he glued it back together with PEANUT BUTTER. Finished it with JELLY-COAT! A guy like that CAN NOT BE TRUSTED!!!!!

Beware of the OOPS'ter!
​

But I am an...

and I've been known to tell TALL TALES at times!!!!

​

 

[rickryder]

Re: Deck and stringer restoration - estimated cost to have done at a local shop?

What ever you do, DON"T listen to OOPS!!! That dummy cut his boat in HALF!!!!!!! And then he glued it back together with PEANUT BUTTER. Finished it with JELLY-COAT! A guy like that CAN NOT BE TRUSTED!!!!!

But I am an...

​

Yeah and he's Canadian too!

 

[R Socey]

Re: Deck and stringer restoration - estimated cost to have done at a local shop?

Do it yourself, and you will know how it's done - save a bunch in the process! Can't wait for the pics.

 

[GT1000000]

Re: Deck and stringer restoration - estimated cost to have done at a local shop?

^^^^What they all said^^^^

'specially that oops! character...if your so inclined, he has the only, specialized boat stretching tool in existence...if you ask nicely he might rent it to you... [those crazy Kanuckians]

The rest of us will be here to cheer you on, give you the best possible advice and encouragement, and if necessary, send the Mob your way for motivation...LOL

Oh yeah, post those pics, Have lots of Fun, and Best Regards,
GT1M

 

[john-88]

Re: Deck and stringer restoration - estimated cost to have done at a local shop?

What ever you do, DON"T listen to OOPS!!! That dummy cut his boat in HALF!!!!!!! And then he glued it back together with PEANUT BUTTER. Finished it with JELLY-COAT! A guy like that CAN NOT BE TRUSTED!!!!!

But I am an...

​

are u serious? and i was getting info on how to... from him :facepalm: do u think what friscoboater did with his transom was good?